Description
Peimine is a steroidal alkaloid found in a variety of species of the Fritillaria plant; it exhibits anti-inflammatory activity and acts as an expectorant and anti-tussive in cough medications. Peimine’s anti-tussive activity may result from negative potentiation of transient receptor potential channels TRPV1 and TRPA1 in vitro. Peimine inhibits cough frequency and cough latency in animal models. Additionally, peimine binds the DNA duplex, inhibits production of pro-inflammatory cytokines like TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1β, and decreases expression of IκB kinase, JNK, and p38.